Since at least the 1990s, U.S. voters have been targeted by deliberately false information intended to keep them away from the polls — fake postcards warning about arrest for unpaid tickets, robocalls giving the wrong election day, text messages falsely telling people they can vote by phone. This bill would make that kind of conduct illegal under both civil and federal criminal law when a person knowingly spreads materially false information about the time, place, or manner of a federal election, or about voter eligibility, within 60 days of that election, and does so with the specific intent to prevent someone from voting. The same rule would apply to generative AI: using an AI system to produce voter-suppression content with intent to suppress votes would be prohibited. Violations would carry up to a year in prison and a fine, plus a private right of action with attorney's fees. The bill also requires the Justice Department to publish accurate counter-information when state and local officials haven't corrected false claims; makes intimidation of tabulation, canvass, and certification workers a federal crime; and outlaws paying someone to NOT vote. Congress would receive an annual report detailing every deceptive-practice allegation the Attorney General received, including who was targeted and what action followed.
Congressional Summary
Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2025This bill generally prohibits deceptive communications and voter interference regarding federal elections.Specifically, the bill prohibits any person, within 60 days before a federal election, from communicating, causing to be communicated, or producing for communication certain information on voting, if the person (1) knows such information to be materially false, and (2) has the intent to impede or prevent another person from voting in an election.Additionally, the bill prohibits any person, within 60 days before a federal election, from using an artificial intelligence system to produce certain information on voting, if the person has the intent to use the system to (1) produce false information, and (2) impede or prevent another person from voting in an election.The bill also prohibits hindering, interfering with, or preventing voting or registering to vote.A private right of action for preventive relief is established for persons aggrieved by violations of these prohibitions.Criminal penalties are also established for violations.If the Department of Justice (DOJ) receives a credible report that materially false information has been or is being communicated in violation of the prohibitions on deceptive communications, and state and local election officials have not adequately communicated corrected information, then DOJ must communicate to the public accurate information designed to correct the materially false information.The bill extends the prohibition on certain types of intimidation in federal elections to also prohibit intimidation for processing ballots or tabulating, canvassing, or certifying votes.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-08-05
- Date Added
- 2026-04-23
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